NEW DELHI: BJP member in Rajya Sabha Tarun Vijay on Wednesday raised the issue of high death rate among scavengers during sewer cleaning and sought safety measures and a minimum salary of Rs 20,000 for safai karmacharis, terming them as "cleanliness martyrs". Raising the issue during zero hour, Vijay quoted an estimate to say that more than 22,000 deaths occurred every year while cleaning of sewers in different parts of the country as per the records of National Commission of Safai Karmacharis, saying they were "cleanliness martyrs" who do not get any attention. Observing that it was unfortunate to see that only people from Valmiki community among scheduled castes were engaged in scavenging work, Vijay said that by law, valmikis should be prohibited from getting engaged in such job.

"Free valmikis (from scavenging) and let the higher castes clean their own dirt," he said.

Stressing that scavengers were doing a work that nobody is ready to do, he demanded that they should be paid at least Rs 20,000 per month. According to him, they were paid only about Rs 2,000 a month currently.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment, he said entering the sewer lines without safety gears should be made a crime even in emergency situations, and for each such death, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh should be given.

He also cited a news report of a teenager being killed while cleaning sewer in Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

Valmikis have long been engaged in manual scavenging but they should be allowed to become priests in temples, feels a BJP MP who will move a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha Friday.

Tarun Vijay, former editor of the RSS mouthpiece Panchajanya, has described Hindu pilgrim centres as the “dirtiest places on earth” and asked why upper-caste Hindus, who dirty these places, call others who clean them “lower castes”.

“The bill is an attempt to free people of the burdens of caste. We have manual scavengers only because of the caste system,” he told The Indian Express.

Raising the issue of scavengers' deaths during sewer cleaning, BJP MP Tarun Vijay said in Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour that these 'cleanliness-martyrs' dont get any attention because they are treated like 'insects'. According to one estimate more than 22 thousand deaths occur every year . Though Supreme Court has ruled that in each case an immediate compensation of Rs ten lakhs be given yet in many cases the compensation given is as low as Rs 60 thousand and still their families have to run from pillar to post to get that.

Stating that its unfortunate to see only Valmikis caste among scheduled castes being engaged for the scavenging work, Tarun Vijay said that by law Valmikis should be prohibited from getting engaged in this work . Free Valmikis from this stigma, and let the so called higher castes clean their own dirt. Why should they need Valmikis to do this sewere cleaning? Is it ordained by any Shastra that only such a csaste will do the sewer cleaning? Tarun Vijay told media persons.

He stgated that such sewer deaths are occuring in almost all states, as per the records of National Commission of Safai Karamcharis- and reports have been rceived from Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamilnadu also.

Tarun Vijay showed a copy of New Indian Express of 23rd January 2016, which carried the pic of a 19 year old teen 's body who died while cleaning sewer in Villupuram, Tamilnadu.

Tarun Vijay said that these scavengers are doing a work that nobody will be ready to do. Instead of honouring them, respecting them and giving them a reasonable salary, they often get as low a salary as Rs two thousand per month. I demand that their minimum slary be increased to rs 20 thousand per month, Tarun Vijay said. while quoting a letter from Mr M Pugalendhi, President of Dr Ambedkar Adi Andhra Scavenger's Liberation Forum.

Tarun Vijay quoted a Supreme Court judgement which clearly stated that" entering sewer lines without safety gears should be made a crime even in emergency situations. For each such death compensation of Rs 10 lakhs should be given to the family of the deceased. " But, Tarun Vijay said that in most cases the family of such decesaed has to struggle to get the compensation .

Why are we so insensitive to these 'angels of cleanliness? Tarun Vijay asked. Becuase dalits dying while doing the cleaning job do not have any vote bank?

Press Trust of India | New Delhi March 9, 2016 Last Updated at 18:23 IST

A BJP member in Rajya Sabha today raised the issue of high death rate among scavengers during sewer cleaning and sought safety measures and a minimum salary of Rs 20,000 for safai karmacharis, terming them as 'cleanliness martyrs'. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Tarun Vijay quoted an estimate to say that more than 22,000 deaths occured every year while cleaning of sewers in different parts of the country as per the records of National Commission of Safai Karmacharis, saying they were 'cleanliness martyrs' who do not get any attention. Observing that it was unfortunate to see that only people from Valmiki community among scheduled castes were engaged in scavenging work, Vijay said that by law, Valmikis should be prohibited from getting engaged in such job. "Free Valmikis" from scavenging and "let the higher castes clean their own dirt," he said. Stressing that scavengers were doing a work that nobody is ready to do, he demanded that they should be paid at least Rs 20,000 per month. According to him, they were paid only about Rs 2,000 a month currently. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, he said entering the sewer lines without safety gears should be made a crime even in emergency situations, and for each such death, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh should be given. He also cited a news report of a teenager being killed while cleaning sewer in Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

BJP member in Rajya Sabha Tarun Vijay on Wednesday raised the issue of high death rate among scavengers during sewer cleaning and sought safety measures and a minimum salary of Rs 20,000 for safai karmacharis, terming them as "cleanliness martyrs"

BJP MP Tarun Vijay on Thursday referred to scavengers as 'cleanliness martyrs' and claimed that over 22,000 scavengers died yearly while cleaning sewers. He added that they should be paid a minimum salary of ₹20,000. Vijay further said that only members of the Valmiki community, a scheduled caste, worked as scavengers, which was unfortunate.

Tarun Vijay, a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha has today raised the issue of high death rate among scavengers during sewer cleaning. He said that as per the records of National Commission of Safai Karmacharis, more than 22,000 deaths occurred every year while cleaning of sewers in different parts of the country.

While calling them ‘cleanliness martyrs’ who do not get any attention, he had sought safety measures and a minimum salary of Rs 20,000 for safai karmacharis. He also observed that it was unfortunate to see that only people from Valmiki community among scheduled castes were engaged in scavenging work.

He said that by law, Valmikis should be prohibited from getting engaged in such job. “Free Valmikis” from scavenging and “let the higher castes clean their own dirt,” he said.

Stressing that scavengers were doing a work that nobody is ready to do, he demanded that they should be paid at least Rs 20,000 per month. According to him, they were paid only about Rs 2,000 a month currently.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment, he said entering the sewer lines without safety gears should be made a crime even in emergency situations, and for each such death, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh should be given. He also cited a news report of a teenager being killed while cleaning sewer in Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

Tarun Vijay In Chakrata: Advancing A Historic Struggle For Social Justice

Aravindan Neelakandan

Aravindan Neelakandan

May 26, 2016, 4:23 pm

SNAPSHOT

The Hindu nationalist and spiritual tradition has always accepted responsibility for discrimination against backward castes and tribes, and tried to find a solution to it. The Tarun Vijay incident should thus be seen in the context of a struggle dating back centuries.

Four days ago, Tarun Vijay, Rajya Sabha MP from the BJP, was attacked by a mob when he was returning from Silgur Devta temple in Chakrata, 180 kilometres from Dehradun. He was with the Scheduled Community (SC) leaders and had led the community members into the temple. On his way back, he was attacked by backward community members in the village.

It may look paradoxical for our colonized collective psyche to understand Hindutvaites fighting the evil of casteism. Unlike the so-called progressives who take the easy route of blaming the evils of the society on the mythical ‘Brahminical Hinduism’ invented by colonial and Marxist historians of the establishment, the Hindu nationalists take the responsibility on their shoulders.

What the BJP MP did at Chakrata should not be seen as an isolated event. Rather, it should be viewed in a much neglected historical context.

Continuation of Hindutva legacy

Hindu nationalists have a long history of fighting the social evils in Hindu society. Here, one has to take into consideration an interesting phenomenon unique to it in current times—the result of colonial-missionary portrayal of Hinduism. In other cultures, the social evils protected or justified by religion were fought by voices for justice found within that religious culture itself. For example, the slavery in United States was vehemently justified by the Hamitic myth in the Bible, while anti-slavery activists also sought to justify their stand from the same scripture. Many of the radical Black movements today are led by Black theologians.

In India, the movement for the abolition of untouchability was inspired by the long tradition of social emancipators inspired by Hindu spirituality. From Viswamitra in Vedic literature through Ramanuja to Bhakthi saints, the Indic spiritual tradition has continuously fought against the trends of marginalization and social stagnation. Yet, one may ask why these social evils exist today despite such continuous efforts.

First thing to be understood is that untouchability and caste system cannot be essentialized as a Hindu phenomenon as was done by colonial and Marxist anthropologists. As Isaac Asimov pointed out in his note to ‘Strikebreaker’ (see: Carol Mason ed. ‘Anthropology through science fiction’, St.Martin’s Press 1974) caste becomes rigid and untouchability emerges when mobility decreases and resource scarcity sets in, in any society.

In pre-modern Europe not only caste system but untouchability too, was rampant. Society was divided into ‘honourable’ and ‘defiled’ sections. As historian Kathy Stuart points out, ‘throughout the Holy Roman Empire dishonourable tradesmen suffered various forms of social, economic, legal, and political discrimination on a graduated scale of dishonor at the hands of ‘‘honourable’’ guild artisans and in ‘‘honourable’’ society at large.’

If this distinction between ‘honourable’ and ‘defiled’ has a striking resemblance to ‘Savarna’ and ‘Avarna’, what the author reveals further is even more striking: In the case of the most extreme dishonor, that of executioners and skinners, Unehrlichkeit (dishonour) could lead to exclusion from virtually all normal sociability.

Executioners and skinners might be pelted with stones by onlookers, they might be refused access to taverns, excluded from public baths, or denied an honourable burial. Dishonour was transmitted through heredity, often over several generations. (Defiled Trades and Social Outcasts, Cambridge University Press, 1999)

But what is striking is that throughout European history there does not seem to have surfaced any spiritual voices for the people thus tyrannized and discriminated while in India there has been a continuous stream of spiritual voices and activism siding with the marginalized and defiled people.

In a move to dissolve the cast-based hierarchy that typecasts the Valmiki population as manual scavengers, BJP MP Tarun Vijay said on Saturday that he has introduced a private member bill in the Rajya Sabha, which proposes that well-trained Valmiki children be made temple priests. The bill is slated for discussion on Monday. Vijay had introduced a similar bill back in 2012, but that was withdrawn after strong opposition from some MPs. When asked whether he has taken religious leaders into confidence while mooting the bill this time, he assured that though no such discussion had taken place yet, he was confident about passing the bill with the help of MP's from other political parties. PM Narendra Modi has himself supported Vijay for the cause, he claimed. Vijay, who was on a visit to Pune, said he chose the city to break the news as it was the land of Savarkar and Ambedkar, who had ushered in social revolution by erradicating archaic customs. When asked what prompted him to moot the bill, the former editor of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece, Panchajanya, said that history must be changed to give them their due. "They have as much right to be high temple priests as any so-called high caste Brahmin. But this can't be attained by mere preaching. Hence, the legislative step, which aspires to give them the moral support they deserve. He also spoke of visiting Haridwar and Hrishikesh in the next few months to meet Dharmacharyas and sensitise the people about the issue.

The issue of manual scavenging was raised in the Rajya Sabha during Question hour. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay who spoke on the dire conditions & cleanliness of the workers also elucidated on the lack of any safeguards for health nor adequate compensation is given for the health issues they face due to the profession. He also called for an immediate end to manual scavenging.

According to a report tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the numbers are quite distressing. The report estimated that about 22 327 lose their lives a year due to manual scavenging based on estimates of number of deaths in urban areas. The families of those who lost their lives have not been compensated for their irreplace lose of their bread winner. The Supreme Court had directed authorities to pay a sum of 10 lakhs however what the families have received has been way too less at about 60 thousand.

As the world readied for the gala celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, a section of Dalits who work as manual scavengers gathered in the capital. They had marched 3,500 km, starting at Dibrugarh in Assam more than four months ago. Traversing 500 districts in 30 states over 125 days, the manual scavengers’ march, called the Bhim Yatra, reached Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 13 April 2016.

The Dalits had rallied under the banner of Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) and their cry of anguish, “Do Not Kill Us,” referred to more than 22,000 unsung deaths of sanitation workers every year—incidentally acknowledged by the Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament, Tarun Vijay, in the Rajya Sabha, just the previous month.

Tarun Vijay statement on Dalits-

"It is a shame that atrocities are still being carried out against dalits. Their women are being raped, houses burnt and the community's people are beaten for drinking water (from common wells). It is time to revolt against atrocities of high caste. Instead of constructing temples, there is a need to treat dalits as human beings. In fact, they (high caste people) should touch feet of dalit people and tender apology for the discriminations," Vijay said.

"It (bill) is to give equal opportunities to Valmakis for acquiring proper training and becoming priests in the temples or adopting any other vocation of their liking. There should be no opposition from any section of society. If we are serious about bringing equality in society and realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream, religious bigotry and discrimination against dalits must end," the MP said.

Vijay, who is from the RSS himself, added that he will talk to religious leaders about the issue and convince them to end caste-based discrimination.

DEHRADUN: Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay on Saturday escorted the three dalits, assaulted for entering a temple on the outskirts of Dehradun, to Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul and demanded urgent action against the culprits. The senior BJP leader also slammed the 'intolerance protesters' for their alleged silence on dalit atrocities.

"The priests of the temple must be punished. They should return ten times the 'fine' they collected illegally from the dalit couple. Also, they should be debarred from performing any puja at the temple as they violated the principles of the religion as well as the sanctity of the constitution," Vihay told reporters after the meeting.

The three dalits - Tikam Singh, his pregnant wife Kavita and father-in-law Daultu Ram - were thrashed earlier this week as they entered the renowned Kukarshi Maharaj temple in Kalsi to seek blessings for the child. While Daultu preferred to remain outside, Kavita and Tikam entered the temple.

Some locals identified Daultu and thrashed the trio. The locals also allegedly instructed them to give a goat for sacrifice. However, after a payment of Rs 501, the 'penalty' for entering the temple, and a warning to never enter the temple again, the three were 'permitted' to leave the temple.

As he demanded justice for the dalits, Vijay went on to single out author Nayantara Sahgal, "a resident of Dehradun", for not speaking up. Sahgal had recently returned her Sahitya Akademi award in protest against the lynching of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh over rumours that his family had consumed beef.

"Why are they keeping silent on intolerance being shown towards dalits? Nayantara Sahgal resides in Dehradun. Why doesn't she come out and protest now?" Vijay asked. He said he has has sought an appointment with home minister Rajnath Singh and will now take the dalits to Delhi.

End discrimination against Dalits, Tarun Vijay takes up temple entry issue in Uttarakhand in Rajya Sabha

Published on February 26, 2016 by INVC NEWS ·

INVCNEWS New Delhi ,

Speaking on the plight of Scheduled castes BJP MP Tarun Vijay demanded that SCs are being denied entry in Uttarakhand and they have been thrashed and beaten up0 but stat5e govt has not taken any action against the culprits. When Dalit leaders like Daulat Kunwar and his wife Saraswati were mistreated while going to pray in the temple, he went to the Governor with the complaints but till culprits are not booked and on the other side Daulat Kunwar is being threatened that he should not pursue the cases.

He demanded that centre must ask state govt to protect dalits and work sincerely to end the bonded labour system prevalent in Jaunsar bawar area.

He also demanded that two crematorium system prevalent in many parts of the country, must end and SCs should be protected to perform the last rites of their dead in dignity. Stating that we neither let them live with respect due to the prevalence of caste based discriminations and nor we allow them to perform last rites with respect. Tarun Vijay cited many examples of Tamilnadu where the SCs were harassed for taking their dead to the cremation grounds and they were denied passage from main road- like in Villupurma incident.. Tarun Vijay is the first MP in India to have spoken against the two crematorium system in parliament.

He said that in Uttarakhand also Dalits were denied entry to temples and in one incident when a SC pregnant lady went to prayer in the temple she was misbehaved. The complaint was given to the Governor, by a delegation of the victims led by Tarun Vijay and protests were made, but the victims were threatened with dire consequences if they pursued with complaints. he said that the issues of atrocities on SCs should not be seen from political party’s coloured angle and there needs to be consensus to stop such incidents. Why should it v be necessary to belong to your party to have the case of injustice taken up in parliament? Tarun Vijay asked. Are not all Dalits are ours beyond party lines?

Speaking to media Shri Tarun Vijkay said that the RSS chief Shri Mohan Bhagwat has also issued an appeal to end the custom of having a separate crematoriums for the SCs. All Hindus must have one temple and one crematorium, he said.

He received govt assurance to work towards this end and many party members supported him.

Dalits in Uttarakhand are preparing to fight a centuries-old tradition that forbids them from entering and worshipping at 349 temples of the hill state’s Jaunsar-Bhabar region, which might ignite a volatile face-off with upper-caste communities.

Dubbed the holiest land for Hindus, the Himalayan state is studded with thousands of temples, many of which have been off-limits for low-caste people.

Dalit leaders said they would forcibly enter the temples, especially five popular ones in the Jaunsar-Bhabar region of Dehradun district, constituting the Chakrata hill block.

The campaign will begin at Sindhugur Maharaj temple at Pokhari village of Chakrata on May 20, where a religious function to mark its Rs 2.5-crore renovation is expected to attract about 10,000 people, they said. The shrine, like many others in the area, is reserved for upper castes.

“The temple committee engaged Dalit labourer for the renovation. It sought donation from members of the community but won’t allow them to worship in the temple now. It plans to drive away Dalits visiting the temple on May 20,” said Daulat Kunwar, who will lead a march along with BJP leader Tarun Vijay.

He said such discrimination and subjugation won’t be tolerated. “We will enter the temple, come what may.”

The Dalits plan on entering the Khatwa Dev and Regyo temples, both in Chakrata, and the Bisoi shrine in Kalsi.

“Similar efforts were made at Kukurshi Maharaj temple at Gabela village but the temple committee washed the floor with Ganga water later, saying it was desecrated by Dalits,” Kunwar said on Tuesday.

Caste-based temple controversies are nothing new. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was stopped at the gates of the Jagannath temple in Puri as she was deemed an outcast for marrying a non-Hindu.

In 2014, a temple in Bihar’s Madhubani district was “purified” — the shrine cleaned and its idols washed — after a visit by then chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, a member of the Musahar community.

Caste-centric discrimination, or untouchability, was banned in India in 1955, but centuries-old feudal attitudes persist in many parts of the country and Dalits, who represent 16% of the country’s population, still face prejudice in every sector.

They are sometimes beaten or killed for using a well or worshipping at a temple. The fear of a backlash was palpable among the poor Dalits in Jaunsar-Bhabar region too.

“We want to worship at the temple where we worked as labourers and donated money. But cannot say if it’s going to happen,” said Kripal, a Dalit resident.

http://samvada.org/2015/news/tarun-vijay-meets-radhamma-at-kolar/

Tarun Vijay meets Radhamma; the cook of Govt School at Gagganahalli, Kolar in Karnataka. #Samarasya

Date posted: November 13, 2015 |

Kolar, Karnataka November 13: It as never imagined to become a emotional bond of a sister, who had no brother, and a brother whose sister was waiting for him in Haryana, and she called to celebrate Bhai Dooj wherever you are. Tarun Vijay, BJP MP reached Radhamma’s village today to have Bhai Dooj Tika and ofer mithai to her ‘new’ Karnataka sister, Radhamma. She was surprised to have a brother from Himalayas, Uttarakhand coming down south in her muddy, forlorn village and she wept like a child. Sobbing she told “ I have no brother, God has gifted me a brother in you today, how lucky I am”. She , in a traditional way, had Aarati of her ‘brother”, invited him to her ‘small chute, big heart” home, gave him mithai and with moist eyes thanked.

Tarun Vijay visited her school and spoke to her at length, Her story is a typical hate inspired atrocious incident of how a male dominated village conspires to put all blame on a hapless women living with her maternal uncle as her husband left her years ago because she could bore no child to him. some how she got a job of cooking mid day meals for a local school, at a meagre 1700 rs per month.

Villagers, so called belonging to ‘higher caste’ and even those who are Scs but belonhgtoo a category of a sub caste that is considered ‘higher’ among SCs, rebelled. The strength of students , plummeted down to 18 from 118, when she joined. She is “ Chaluvadi” among SCs, which is lowest in their eyes. “ this time, when the village elders met to decide on Pongal celebration days, they refused to invite us, Radhamma told. The headmaster himself is encouraging children to leave the school and take admission in other schools.

I met headmaster YV Vernkatachalapathi, who said the problem lies elsewhere. Its the relatives of Radhamma who have filed many cases against the villagers under prevention of atrocities against SCs act, unless the cases are withdrawn, they will refuse to cooperate. But why punish Radhamma for something she has not done, I asked? He had no answer.

A lonely, dejected dalit lady is fighting her battle. She is courageous and will not buckle under pressure. The local authorities , police officers and DC came and ate with her, buts too formal. None has spoken to or warned the erring villagers. The complete absence of any administrative support surprises, as none, named by Radhamma has been arrested or questioned.

The complaints of Radhamma were lying with administration since September 9th, this year. Why has the DC and local SP have not been questioned and transferred so far for not attending to her complaints till it was picked up by Indian Express and other media?

Its shocking that how our leaders keep looking other way while the living deities are humiliated and insulted by so called ‘higher castes’. You speak about it and they will devise different ways to silence the voices demanding justice. I said to the local media those who keep silence and encourage such atrocious assaults on our dali brothers and sisters, who are our kith and kin and our blood, they sin against god, against Hindu dharma and against constitution of course. But any body listening? Except RSS nobody sent any members o her for solace and support.

BENGALURU: Radhamma, a cook at the higher primary school in Kagganahalli, Kolar district, was surprised and happy to receive her new-found brother in BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay, at her residence on Friday.

Radhamma has been in the news for quite some time now after students of her school, particularly those belonging to the upper castes, reportedly refused to consume the food prepared by her as she belongs to the Scheduled Caste.

After reading about her in a section of the media, Tarun Vijay came all the way from Uttarakhand to meet and see her plight. On coming to know of this, Radhamma was visibly happy and emotional as she called him her brother. She also put tika on his forehead as part of Bhai Dooj and offered him sweets.

“I have no brother. God has gifted me a brother in you today... how lucky I am,” Radhamma told him as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Tarun Vijay visited her school and spoke to her at length. Later, he met headmaster Y V Venkatachalapathi to know what led to the boycot of Radhamma. The headmaster blamed Radhamma’s relatives for the problems. According to him, her relatives had filed cases against the villagers under the prevention of atrocities against SCs Act, which led to Radhamma’s boycott.

Tarun Vijay, later speaking to the media, expressed shock over the inaction of the district administration and police.

“It is shocking to know that no one has spoken to or warned the erring villagers. The complete lack of any administrative support surprises me, as none named by Radhamma has been arrested or questioned,” Tarun Vijay said.

“The complaints of Radhamma were lying with the district administration since September 9. Why has the DC and local SP not been questioned and transferred so far for not attending to her complaints till it was picked up by Indian Express and other media?” he asked.

He also criticised the state government for being insensitive and rude to the plight of a Dalit woman. “I have promised her that I will raise the issue during Parliament’s winter session starting November 26. I will try to get her justice,” he added.

KOLAR: It was a special Bhai Dooj for Radhamma, a dalit woman who lives nearly ostracized in her village in Karnataka. BJP MP Tarun Vijay flew down to her village to have a tika and offer sweets to her 'new' sister.

Surprised to have a brother from the Himalayas in her muddy, forlorn village, Radhamma wept like a child. "I have no brother, God has gifted me a brother in you today, how lucky I am," she said. Radhamma, in a traditional way, had aarati of her 'brother', invited him to her home, gave him mithai and thanked him with moist eyes.

Moved by her condition, Tarun Vijay went to Radhamma's school to know more about her. Radhamma's husband left her years ago because she could not bore a child to him. She started working at a local school, cooking mid-day meals and earning a meagre Rs 1700 per month. But the villagers, some of whom belong to higher sub-caste within the Scheduled Caste, rebelled. The strength of students plummeted to 18 from 118 when she joined.

She is 'Chaluvadi' among SCs, which is lowest in their eyes. "This time, when the village elders met to decide on Pongal celebration days, they refused to invite me," said Radhamma.

She claims the headmaster is encouraging children to leave the school and take admission elsewhere.

When asked, headmaster YV Vernkatachalapathi told Tarun Vijay, "The problem lies elsewhere. The relatives of Radhamma have filed many cases against the villagers under prevention of atrocities against SC act. Unless those cases are withdrawn, they will refuse to cooperate."

"But why punish Radhamma for something she has not done?" asked Tarun Vijay. The headmaster had no answer.

But the lonely, dejected dalit lady is fighting her battle. She is courageous and says will not buckle under pressure. The local authorities and police officers came and ate with her, but just as a formal gesture. No one has spoken to her or warned the villagers. The complete absence of any administrative support is surprising, as no action has been taken against those named by Radhamma.

Tarun Vijay said he will take up the issue in Parliament's winter session beginning November 26. He once again urged people to follow the path shown by Thirukkural, classic Tamil literature, and fight the areas of darkness.

Discrimination against Dalit cook Radhamma: If you don't speak on this, you sin against Hindus

Tarun Vijay| Thursday, November 12, 2015 - 16:32

The News Minute

There is nothing new or unprecedented in this unfortunate tale of our deep rooted hatred for our own people - our flesh and blood.

The case of Radhamma, a Dalit lady from Kolar (69 kms from Bangalore) should have shocked all those who take pride in Hindu Dharma and fight for it. It would have been the most natural thing to see our Hindu saints and Mathadhipatis going to her home, support her and put a stop to any politics being woven around this despicable story of untouchability. It was not just the district collector’s job or the police man’s duty, but the duty of every Hindu who thinks his dharma needs to be safeguarded against such atrocious behaviour.

Except RSS and BJP inspired Samarasta Manch workers going there and helping the Dalit lady to stand firm, nothing much was seen. As a report in a Chennai based daily suggested, there might have been some politics too behind the sudden exodus of children from the school, as many of them belonged to the scheduled castes. Still that doesn't dilute the gravity of the incident. There is nothing new or unprecedented in this unfortunate tale of our deep rooted hatred for our own people - our flesh and blood.

Gohana, Jhajjhar, Madurai, Coimbatore, are just recent ones, and we find ghastly assaults on Dalits everywhere, and in all the states the instances of assaults on Dalits are increasing. Though this relates to our societal failure to have all castes join mainstream of non-discriminatory path of progress, the ilk of Girish Karnad and Pratap Bhanu Mehtas make it distorted and use Dalits and Muslims as an instrument to beat Hindus, and blame organisations like BJP/RSS through gross misrepresentation. Let them remain what they are. They love to have strong criticism from the hurt Hindus as that provides them a false aura of martyrdom. Such writers and artists have a sick mindset and a pathetic hatred for Hindus and their contribution to enhance social strife and hate amongst various sections of the society is immense.

But the question is what the Hindus are doing to forge solidarity, breaking all barriers of discrimination? We don't speak on Dalit atrocities, we don't reach them out when they need a help, we don't befriend them except for nauseatingly artificial shows of collective meals and some slogan shouting in their favour whenever we smell a repeat of Meenakshipuram.

Dalits don't appear on the invite lists of our personal celebrations - marriages or mundans, we don't have them included in our Diwali, Dushehra or Holi and don't stall parliament on issue of atrocities on them. But we want them to stay Hindus and leave them alone to fight their battles in a heavily prejudiced system.

It’s the rich, powerful, influential class of Hindus that organise huge Bhagwat weeks, conferences and congregations. We organise successful meetings of all denominations of Hindu sects to denounce untouchability and caste based discriminations, and pass very aptly worded resolutions which form a protective moral shields around the castes which consider themselves as superior and higher in comparison to the other castes. But we fail miserably to monitor and review if such resolutions have resulted in the reduction of atrocities and discriminatory behaviour against the scheduled castes? Has that helped Dalits get better behaviour of the so called higher castes? Has it, in any way, helped to end ‘two glass system’ and ‘two crematorium’ system prevailing in many parts of southern India?

They want their right to Dharma, for temple entry, for being treated equally in temple pujas, for fetching water from temple pond, for cremating their dead in the common crematoriums, for sending their children to same good schools, yet they have to fight for such small matters which should have been given to them with respect and honour by the Hindu pandits and saints and leaders.

We forget that Dalits are us, they are our kith and kin, our blood brothers. They have led battles and wars for the Hindu dharma, they have shown as much if not more brilliance, courage and perseverance for the cause of the nation and our dharma. The Brahmins and the other so called higher castes do not have a right to dictate terms or to tell them that they have to remain out of boundaries because they belong to a caste which, to them is ‘lower’. If a priest discriminates in temple or puja affairs on the basis of castes, he should be de barred from performing such religious acts as he is sinning and working against the basic tenets of Hindu Dharma which exhorts to treat all equally.

It’s true that through the spiritual movements like Mata Amritanandamayee, Gayatri Pariwar, Swaminarayan, Sri Sri Ravishankar the essential unity of the human race cutting across all barriers of caste and creed is being established and the attitude of their followers has brought in a fresh air of brotherhood amongst all castes.

The RSS stands as the tallest and the most successful effort to bring about the change and have the Dalits join mainstream of education and social life with a complete evaporation of such discriminatory attitude in its working. One sees the highest number of inter-caste marriages and social get together within the RSS families. RSS workers are running thousands of service projects aimed for their mainstreaming and ending discriminations among Dalits all over India. Reservation in government jobs and educational institutions have worked wonders for the elevation of living standards and empowering Dalits. Yet, the task to end such an apartheid remains gigantic and much to do with our caste ridden politics, where the very first question asked to an aspirant of any post or election ticket is “Kaun Jaat Ho ?” or What is your caste?

Nobody speaks about ending caste based discriminations any more, as it is now a universally accepted norm. Dalits are a vote bank, and hence for political gains they must be shown respect in our speeches which means nothing on the ground level but triggers a competition in demagoguery and shamanism .

Nobody is interested to give Dalits a place they deserve, a position of real decision making, a representational share in any organisation or party. The cosmetics we see are merely notional showcases , and those Dalits who have been fortunate to find a place amongst the pantheons of the rich, powerful and so called high castes, remain so low profile and possessed with their own personal benefits that the impact of their notional inclusion is also lost on the ground. They don't help

their community, they don't voice their concerns even feebly, they adopt the language and idioms of their superior bosses to define incidents of atrocities on Dalits as ‘political’ and cover up the real motive behind them. And the discriminatory behaviour crosses religious fault lines- in Islamic and Christian communities too, those converted from Dalits find a lower place in comparison to those who were erstwhile Brahmin or Thakur Hindus.

In our contemporary times, when anything and everything that hurts our societal harmony and inclusiveness has become a tool in the hands of those who control media and are showing precipitated hatred against Modi and Hindu pariwar, it is difficult to have a balanced and fair dialogue on the failure of our heavily “high caste” intellectual class on addressing the Dalit issue.

The pains of Dalits do not matter to the secular intellectual Moguls, unless that can be used for an immediate attack on Hindu pariwar. And then the matter is forgotten.

Let us focus on what we can do. It is incumbent upon the Hindu leadership, their saints to rise to the occasion and empower Dalits. To be a Hindu should also mean to be taking lead to end such discriminations. To me, it is more important than any temple or beef issue.

Following media reports of a boycott by students after a Dalit was appointed as midday meal cook, Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay visited the Government Higher Primary School at Kagganahalli in Mulbagal taluk of Kolar district on Friday.

Mr. Vijay met school authorities and the cook, Radhamma, who is facing caste discrimination. He said the matter would be brought before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ms. Radhamma explained the ordeal she was undergoing since she was appointed as the assistant cook in the school last year.

Valmikis have long been engaged in manual scavenging but they should be allowed to become priests in temples, feels a BJP MP who will move a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha Friday.

Tarun Vijay, former editor of the RSS mouthpiece Panchajanya, has described Hindu pilgrim centres as the “dirtiest places on earth” and asked why upper-caste Hindus, who dirty these places, call others who clean them “lower castes”.

“The bill is an attempt to free people of the burdens of caste. We have manual scavengers only because of the caste system,” he told The Indian Express.

“If you want to end it, we must restore the respect of those people who were forced to do it and because of the atrocious behaviour of those people who think that they are upper castes,” Vijay said. “If we believe we are Hindus and Ram lives in every creation and human being, why should we not allow Valmikis to be priests? What crime have they committed? In fact,” he added, “people should wash the feet of these Valmikis who have been engaged in manual scavenging and seek their pardon.”

Vijay alleged that he has received anonymous threat calls because of the bill and that some groups in Haridwar and Hrishikesh have told him not to enter temples if he goes ahead with it.

After its Nagpur conclave in March, the RSS pledged to work against the caste system but Vijay denied his bill is part of that strategy. The bill will seek an additional clause in the Constitution for Valmikis’ rights.

Chennai: Even as BJP MP Tarun Vijay moved a private member bill in the Rajya Sabha enabling trained members of the Valmiki community to become temple priests, the 200-odd students who underwent archaka (priest) training course offered by the Tamil Nadu government in 2007-08 are awaiting the Supreme Court order, to be delivered by July-end, on a petition challenging the move.

On Friday, Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay introduced a private member bill, which proposes that well-trained Valmiki children be made temple priests. The bill is slated for discussion on Monday. Mr Vijay had introduced a similar bill in 2012, but that was withdrawn after strong opposition from some MPs.

Stating that he was unaware of legal hurdles faced by the Tamil Nadu government to remove caste barriers in making members of all communities temple priests, Mr Vijay said if people from Valmiki community are allowed to become priests, naturally, all other community people will be covered. “Valmiki community is at the bottom of the lower caste list. If the lowest of lowest are made legally eligible to become priests, then, naturally, everyone can,” he told Deccan Chronicle.

Tamil Nadu, which has a long history of social reform, has been facing legal hurdles in its efforts to end Brahmins’ monopoly to become temple priests. The then DMK government issued a government order in May 2006 declaring that suitably trained and qualified Hindus, without “discrimination of caste, creed, custom or usage” were to be appointed as archakas in government-administered temples.

In May 2007, the HR&CE set up six archaka training centres in major Saivite and Vaishnavite shrines, which offered a year-long certificate course in agama sastras. As many as 207 students, including three Brahmins, enrolled and underwent the training but the apex court order stayed appointments of non-Brahmins as temple priests.

Mr V. Ranganathan, state president of the Archakar Payirchi Pettra Mannavargal Sangam, who had impleaded in the SC case, said after hearing the arguments in the eight-year-old case, the SC has reserved orders and the judgment is expected by July — immediately after the vacation. “We are hopeful of getting the verdict in our favour,” he said.

On the BJP MP’s attempt to move a bill, he said he should amend the bill to enable all non-Brahmin communities to become temple priests.

Mr Shiva Shankar, who underwent priest training in Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, has been working as a temple priest in a Vaishnavite temple, near Tiruchy. “As long as people are not aware of my caste, they interact with me freely in the temple. When they come to know I am a Dalit, some people become indifferent,” he complained.

Tarun Vijay said that he has introduced a private bill in Rajya Sabha which aims to eliminate caste discrimination and give equal opportunity to Valmaki community to become priests in Hindu temples.

TOI

Radheshyam Jadhav| TNN | May 9, 2015, 08.07 PM IST

Tarun Vijay said that he has introduced a private bill in Rajya Sabha which aims to eliminate caste discrimination and give equal opportunity to Valmaki community to become priests in Hindu temples.

Ambedkar's harmony incomplete without nationality

There has been a strange phenomenon in which Dr. BR Ambedkar's life against loyalties to support everything in the name of Ambedkar is being extended. Ambedkar was against constitution and asymmetry. But against the constitution and openly support Jihadist elements offensive attack on the judiciary and judges, they took board Ambedkar Dalit left jihadist alliances are spreading poison. Which seems to be most hurt if he died in the Constitution is the soul of Baba Saheb.

Babasaheb Ambedkar fought against racism throughout life, to work for social harmony, his life's mission to break down the society and not to break the mentality of inequality and social change in the country had changed. The change was only possible to take everyone along. Hindus attacked the hypocrisy and duplicity but tightly on all sections of Hindu society's affinity with the country or put together. The reality is that if Article 370 of Ambedkar Kashmir are yet to conclude an acceptable environment is made.

Babasaheb Ambedkar was the primary nationality in harmony. He embraced Buddhism in the country prior to the vote-Mtantron was studied and analyzed. Christian and Muslim leaders have the superiority of their votes went to the proven and doing everything possible to convince them that they wanted not to accept Christianity or Islam.

Eventually Ambedkar embraced Buddhism from the spirit of the Indian Bharti was testimony to their exclusive allegiance. With its millions of followers of the Buddhist faith after accepting the Hindu Code Bill was building the Hindu reformist and revolutionary bill was supposed to, it had included the neo-Buddhists.

They did not want the beliefs are born in India and have met each other, they never arise at any level of friction and Vamnsyta. They also did not want that life has existed in India for centuries, death and marriage go down the traditional relationship.

India was paramount to them, Dr. Ambedkar's book "Thoughts on Pakistan, or Pakistan's my view and in the book he very clearly behind the poisonous communal Przzwlta Pakistan, Islamic extremists and militant campaigns and nationhood Metaphysics is attached to the ground.

It's things like JNU university must be at least should be stated. That's different from all the leaders, distinguished and large Ambedkar its contemporary look, but Congress did not give them great.

Ambedkar Hrwane elections to Congress had directed. After historic Poona Pact, which Hindu society was seen as a huge step in the direction of unity and harmony. Dr. Ambedkar's generous heart incise the national spirit proves stone. Ambedkar had sought so that the cleaning staff to enter the temple, met the same rights like all other races. However, he entered the temple in Madras that do not allow Dalits to vote in favor of the bill and the Poona Pact broke directed. Congress did not want Gandhi's stature should be equal, in many contexts, while Dr. Ambedkar's stature was bigger than Gandhi.

When passing from the UK barrister Ambedkar University in Baroda Sayajirao Gaikwad appointment having lived in hostels, then six months old Chhahtrawas superintendent believes that Ambedkar called Brahmin, six months later it turned out that the superintendent would Mahar Ambedkar If the goods out of the room at night Babasaheb throw drove them out.

Cried bitterly Ambedkar is my fault, only that I am a Hindu, not prevalent in the Hindu practice hypocrisy, double and scored on a sharp blow to his followers strong faith in Buddhism, "Riddles in Hinduijm viz by writing the book Riddles of Hinduism mythology gods laughed at plenty of events, but his intention was clear and was in the heart of India. Therefore, demand restrictions on the book arose.

Ironically, today the inhuman atrocities on SCs in different regions of the country show an long Dr. Ambedkar was fighting life. Each year, more than twenty-two thousand are killed while cleaning sewer cleaning crew, which I said in the Rajya Sabha hygiene martyr, but not in the house, no noise and commotion not universities. This situation must change. Kaushalya married Sankar in Tamil Nadu and when Shankar is killed because he oppressed and Kaushalya so-called upper caste. Kaushalya's widowhood Hindu society is challenging why her husband had to die?

Ambedkar who support jihad in the name of Kashmir are not a friend of this country, not a supporter of Ambedkar, Ambedkar's political shop boards can be made either from intellectual peacock tail, which fought against Ambedkar lifetime, but Ambedkarbadi can not be made because the mind and spirit of Ambedkar in India's national culture is deeply etched.